The bell rings. It’s time for Science. During the lesson, the teacher tells them that they are going to talk about air pollution and asks, “Do you know why you can’t see the sun today?”

Some children answer, “Because of the fires.” 

Socrates asks, “But why? The fires are far away.”

The teacher explains that the smoke travels through the air and that a fire can affect everyone. Many people become sick, like their classmates, not only those who live close to the fires. 

In fact, the whole Earth can be affected.

Air pollution has many causes. It comes from cars and factories and, more generally, from human activity.

This night, Socrates and Merve have the same dream. They dream about “Super Nature,” a hero who will fight air pollution and save humanity.

The next morning, Socrates and Merve woke up excited by the dream they had had the night before. When they met on their way to school, they were both astonished to realize they had seen the same hero in their dreams: the "Supernatural Being" fighting against air pollution.

The schoolyard was still open, shrouded in grey fog, and most of their friends hadn't been able to come to school because they were sick. Thinking about how they could ever reach the clear sky they'd seen in their dreams, they both went into their classrooms.

Ferahnaz Satmaz/Leyla Atakan Primary School 

In class, their teacher explained that air pollution is not only caused by factories, but also by our daily choices.

“Children,” the teacher said, “we all leave invisible marks on the Earth called a ‘carbon footprint.’”

Socrates and Merve were now beginning to understand why the hero in their dream sometimes became weak: these heavy footprints left by people were draining the hero’s strength.

Okuldan sonra, Sokrates sisli havada yürürken ayakkabılarına baktı. Bir an için, attığı her adımın ardında siyah, dumanlı bir el izi bıraktığını hissetti. Merve'ye dönerek sordu: "Attığımız her adım havayı biraz daha kirletiyorsa, bu ayak izlerini nasıl azaltabiliriz?"

O anda, yerdeki gri tozun üzerinde, diğerlerinden farklı, parlayan bir ayak izi fark ettiler.

Parlayan ayak izi, Süper Doğa'nın pelerinindeki yeşil ışığa benziyordu. İzleri takip etmeye başladıklarında, her adımın aslında bir seçim olduğunu fark ettiler: bir yere arabayla gitmek yerine yürümek veya gereksiz ışıkları kapatmak, bu ayak izlerini daha küçük hale getiriyordu.

İzleri takip ederek sonunda şehrin en büyük ve en kirli fabrikasının önüne vardılar.

At the entrance of the factory stood a huge, pitch-black footprint—the source of the massive smoke that covered the entire city. This footprint didn’t belong to just one person, but to the carelessness of the whole city.

Just as Socrates and Merve bent down to save the small green sapling next to this enormous mark, the factory door opened with a loud noise, and an unexpected voice rose from inside…

      Burcu ER AKICI/Hüseyin Akdağ Primary School

    The voice coming from the factory gate wasn't harsh. On the contrary, it sounded a little sad and tired:

“I want a clean world too…”

    Socrates and Merve looked inside in surprise. There were people working inside. Large machines were working noisily and sending dark smoke into the sky. One of the workers came up to them and said, “We know these machines are harming nature… but we don’t know how else to do it.”

    Merve whispered quietly, “Maybe together we can find a way…” Just then, a green light flashed inside the factory.

Ali AKICI - Vedide Baha Pars Primary School

Socrates and Merve carefully walked around the large footprint on the ground. Suddenly, it began to glow softly. It was as if it was trying to tell them something.  Merve leaned closer: "This footprint... İt's moving." Socrates thought for a moment: " Maybe it's glowing line, leading toward the back of the factory.

As they followed the trail, they reached the back of the factory. Old machines, waste bins and forgotten items were scattered around. But something else caught their attention screens left on and lights blinking everywhere. Merve looked surprised: " No one is here, but everything is still running!" Socrates frowned: "That means it's using energy... and harming nature." For the first time, they noticed a kind of waste they couldn't easily see.

One of the screens suddenly turned on. Numbers began increasing rapidly. Super Nature's voice echoed:

"Every device left on, every unnecessary use... leaves a mark on the world."

Images of tablets, computers and phones appearedon the screen. Merve said quietly: "But we're just playing games."

Socrates replied thoughtfully: "Maybe it's not just what we do... but how much we use them.

Suddenly, the screen split into two. On one side, devices were left on, machines kept running and dark footprints grew bigger. On the other side, lights were turned of, deviced were used less and green footprints became smaller and brighter.

Super Nature spoke again:

"Small choices create big changes."

Merve said confidently: " Then we should choose the right one."

At the moment, the largest footprint suddenly began a shake. Red warming signs appeared on the screens.

Socrates stepped back: " This footprint... it's getting bigger!"

Merve asked worriedly: "But why?"

Super Nature looked serious: 

"Because this footprint... is not only coming from here."

After a short pause, he added:

"It might be fed from other places too..."

They both asked at the same time: 

"Where from?"

UĞUR MARAL LEYLA ATAKAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

As Socrates and Merve stood around the giant footprint, the Super Nature display expanded. The image transformed into a map; lines of light emanating from cities, houses, and distant countries converged into a single footprint. Merve exclaimed in amazement,

“This footprint isn’t just made up of this!”

Socrates added,

“All the little things everyone does come together here.”

Super Nature stated,

“All the footprints in nature and the digital world converge.”

Images from different places appeared on the screen: tablets left on, lights not turned off, systems running non-stop…

Merve said,

“So it’s not just us.” Socrates added,

“Everyone’s choices amplify this trace.” Super Nature said,

“That’s why the trace is so strong.”

The green lights on the map started flashing. Someone was turning off their devices, switching off the lights, consuming less energy. Merve shouted,

“The trail is getting smaller!”

Indeed, the footprint had begun to fade.

Socrates smiled,

“So, small steps do work.”

Super Nature said,

“Big changes begin with small steps.”